Record number of touch players selected for NSW

A record number of touch football players from Peninsula Touch Association have been selected in the NSW Touch Association squads to compete against Queensland in the State of Origin series in September this year.

Nine players will form part of the elite NSW squads that will train in preparation for final selection in teams that will compete in the State of Origin series in Sydney on September 2 and 3.

Kyle Jermyn was named in the men's under-20 squad and will be joined by the only other male Peninsula resident, Andre Andrews of the men's over-50 team.

Seven women made preliminary squads including Karina Haddin and Karen Tucker in the women's over-35 and Jodi Dillon, Belinda Straker, Liz Greiner, Kim Starkey and Heidi McTernan in the women's over 40 squad.

The inclusion of these women players comes off the back of the Peninsula Women's Open team finishing runners-up in the Women's Open plate series at the NSW State Cup in December; a team which featured all seven NSW squad players.

Three of the seven also competed as part of the Hunter Central Coast Western Hornets representative teams in the National Touch League Tournament in March, where the Hornets women's over-35s team were crowned champions and women's over-40s team finished as semi-finalists.

Peninsula Touch president Mr Rod Dillon said: "This is a fantastic result for these players individually and for Peninsula Touch.

"It is great to see their hard-work and dedication paying off.

"This also demonstrates the playing strength of our club and provides a great boost for women's touch something our young female players to strive for.

"We wish all our nine squad members good luck and hope to see them representing NSW and Peninsula Touch in the State of Origin series," Mr Dillon said.

Media release, 22 Mar 2016

Rod Dillon, Peninsula Touch